I'm pulling back the curtain on imposter syndrome—how early labels shape who we believe we're allowed to be, why that "I'm-a-fraud" voice screams loudest the moment we don't have the answer, and what an impostor spiral feels like in real time. I'll share a colleague's story of kids who never questioned their college destiny, the semester I spent at UC Berkeley waiting for someone to tell me admissions messed up, and the boardroom flashes where I still catch myself posturing instead of admitting I don't know (yet). Then I'll dive into my three go-to tools for loosening impostor syndrome's grip: a quick naming practice that snaps me out of autopilot, a commute-time audio journal that drains the spiral of its power, and a curiosity script that turns "I don't know" into genuine inquiry—and credibility. Hit play, and let's trade posture for presence and claim the space we've earned.

This episode is all about my experience in the messy middle—what it felt like when I was deep in the dip, why it was so hard to keep going, and what helped me not walk away when everything felt like a mess. I open up about the grip of impostor syndrome, how clapping back at my inner lizard brain (aka Bernard) gave me a little space to breathe, and the ongoing tug-of-war between wanting to grow and wanting to quit.

I share moments from biking through the Swiss Alps, hiking a 14er, and facing the sting of someone challenging the work my team had poured our hearts into—because whether it's a mountain or a meeting, the J-Curve shows up everywhere. And sometimes, the mess is the lesson.